Game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game board having opposed parallel major surfaces. The board is provided with a plurality of slots individually associated with a like plurality of playing fields. A plurality of game pieces each comprising a pair of indicia bearing bodies joined to each other at one of their ends are also provided. The board and pieces are so constructed as to enable the pieces to be disposed in respective slots with the indicia bearing bodies of each pieces extending in juxtaposed parallel relation to an opposed major surface of the board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to game apparatus including a game board having aplanar surface comprising a plurality of playing fields arranged in anarray of rows and columns together with a plurality of playing piecesadapted to be removably mounted on selected ones of the playing fieldsof such surface and more particularly to such game apparatus in which atleast every other one of the playing fields of at least each column isassociated with an opening extending all the way through the boardbetween it and an adjacent playing field and the playing pieces areremovably mounted on playing fields of the board by means of suchopenings.

Games based on a planar surface divided into a plurality of playingfields arranged in rows and columns such as checkers, chess,tic-tac-toe, etc. have been known from earliest times. In such games aplurality of marks or more often physically discrete markers or playingpieces are each placed on a selected one of the playing fields in orderto play the game. Thus, the planar surface or "checkerboard" is normallyoriented substantially horizontally and the playing pieces merely reston the playing fields and are easily displaced with respect thereto.

Game apparatus of this type in which the "checkerboard" is orientedvertically have been proposed in which case some means for mounting theplaying pieces on the playing fields of the board must be provided. Forexample, the prior art discloses game apparatus comprising acheckerboard having a plurality of hooks projecting from the planarsurface thereof adjacent selected playing fields thereof and aperturedplaying pieces adapted to be hung from such hooks over such playingfields. Similarly, the prior art disclose game apparatus which comprisesa checkerboard having a plurality of holes or slots in the planarsurface thereof each located in one of the playing fields thereof and aplurality of playing pieces each having a projection thereon adapted toengage such holes or slots.

Such vertical game apparatus has a number of advantages. The playingboard may be made larger, since the "reach" of the player's arms is nota limitation. In addition, the game board is easier for the players to"read" both due to size and orientation. Also, the playing pieces cannotbe accidentally displaced. However, the players of such apparatus tendto get in each other's way since they must both be on the same side ofthe vertical game board during play.

It is an object of this invention to provide a game apparatus of thetype described above in which the players may play the game fromopposite sides of the game board when the playing surface thereofextends vertically.

Game apparatus is known in which the playing field thereof compriseopenings through the game board arranged in rows and columns and theplaying pieces are adapted to fit through the openings so that the gamemay be played with the game board oriented vertically with the playerson opposite sides thereof.

However, in this type of game apparatus either the "checkerboard"feature is sacrificed since all of the playing fields are openings whichtend to be indistinguishable from each other or the size of the gamepieces relative to the playing fields must be reduced. Thus, in gamessuch as chess, it is either difficult to locate a particular desiredplaying field of the array or to "read" the values of the game pieces.

It is another object of this invention to preserve the checkerboardfeature and size of the game pieces relative to the playing fields ingame apparatus of the type described.

Obviously, a two-sided vertical checkerboard array of playing fieldscould be provided with projections on both sides for mounting playingpieces. However, this would require each player to duplicate his moveson both sides of the playing board or some sort of cooperation betweenthe players to cause each move to be presented on both sides of theboard.

It is a further object of this invention to provide game apparatus ofthe type described in which each move by a player on one side of theplaying board is automatically reproduced on the other side of theplaying board without diminishing the checkerboard feature of theplaying board.

The prior art discloses a two-sided vertical board for playing chess orcheckers in which the rows of playing field are oriented horizontally inspaced parallel planes to provide shelves on which the playing piecesare placed. Similarly, the prior art discloses a checkerboard array ofopenings with each opening provided with a shelf on which playing piecesare placed. In the first case the checkerboard feature of the apparatusis greatly reduced. In the second case it is impossible to play chesssince only the checkerboard array of openings are available for play,whereas contiguous playing fields in each row are required for chess. Inboth cases the playing pieces may be easily displaced from their desiredposition on the shelves in play.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide game apparatus ofthe type described in which all playing fields of the board areavailable for play and in which the playing pieces cannot beaccidentally displaced from their selected position on the board,without sacrifice of the checkerboard feature thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The game board of game apparatus according to this invention includesmeans mounting a plurality of playing fields in row and column arraywith at least every other one of the playing fields in each row andcolumn of such array being associated with an opening extending all theway through the board between it and an adjacent playing field in itscolumn of the array which opening has a maximum dimension in thedirection of such column which is a small part of the maximum dimensionof the playing field in the direction of such column when the playingboard is oriented with the direction of the column extending vertically.The game apparatus of this invention also includes a plurality of gamepieces each of which comprises a pair of indicia bearing bodies andmeans joining such pair of bodies to each other at one of their endswith the bodies extending in mutually parallel planes. According to thisinvention, at least the means of the game board mounting the pluralityof playing fields in row and column array or the means of each gamepiece joining the pair of bodies thereof to each other at one of theirends is sufficiently flexible to allow one of the pair of bodies of eachof said game pieces to engage any one of the openings associated with aplaying field whereby the game piece may be supported in selectedjuxtaposition with respect to the playing field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The foregoing and other objects and features of this invention will bemore fully understood from the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game board in accordance with onepreferred embodiment of this invention oriented for play in a verticalposition by players on opposite sides thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a game piece particularly adapted foruse with the game board of FIG. 1 in a preferred embodiment of the gameapparatus of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the game board of FIG. 1together with two game pieces as shown in FIG. 2 with one of such gamepieces shown in the process of being engaged with the game board and theother of such game pieces shown fully engaged with the game board.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the game board of FIG. 1 but shownoriented for play in a horizontal position with a plurality of playingpieces arranged on the playing board and showing two alternativepositions for the game pieces on the game board.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary front views in elevation eachof the upper left hand corner of a game board similar to that shown inFIG. 1 but each showing a different construction for such game board.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged front views in elevation of game pieces asshown in FIGS. 2-4 illustrating one system for applying indicia to thegame pieces.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a game piece as shown in FIGS. 2-4, 8and 9 but illustrating a system of applying indicia to the game piecesby which each game piece can bear indicia of two different colors.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front view in elevation of the upperleft hand corner of a game board according to a different embodiment ofthe apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a game board as shownin FIG. 11 with three game pieces according to this embodiment of theapparatus shown in cross-section two of such game pieces being shown asalready applied to the game board and the third of such pieces beingshown in the process of being applied to the game board.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional game pieceaccording to the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view showing an alternate means of constructionfor the playing board according to the embodiment of this inventionshown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a further meansof construction for a game board similar to that shown in FIGS. 11 and14 but adding a further feature of flexibility.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the playing boardconstructed as shown in FIG. 15 including a cross-sectional view of twogame pieces similar to that shown in FIG. 13 in the process of beingapplied to the game board in order to illustrate the further feature offlexibility provided according to this construction.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the upper left handcorner of a game board according to yet another embodiment of theapparatus of this invention.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the game boardof FIG. 17 showing two game pieces according to this embodiment of theapparatus of this invention with one of such game pieces being shown asapplied to the game board and the other of such game pieces being shownin the process of being applied thereto.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a game board similar in construction tothat shown in FIG. 6 with a plurality of game pieces similar to thatshown in FIGS. 2-4 and 8-10 applied thereto with the game board beingmodified to allow it to be folded with the game pieces in place.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an alternateconstruction of the game board shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a preferred combination package andsupport means for game apparatus according to the embodiment of thisinvention shown in FIGS. 1 through 10.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a preferred construction for theembodiments of this invention shown in FIGS. 11 through 16 illustratingan alternate playing position for the apparatus according to suchembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a game board 10 according to one embodiment of thegame apparatus of this invention is shown. According to this embodimentof the invention, the game board 10 is essentially rigid and may berigidly supported in a vertical position by means of an appropriatepedestal 12. The game board 10 comprises a rigid frame 14 within which aplurality of rigid squares of two different colors for example, white 15and black 16, are mounted by means of vertically extending rigid rods 17in a checkerboard array of horizontal rows or ranks and vertical columnsor files. The squares or different colored playing fields 15 and 16 ofeach vertical column or file are spaced from each other by a distancewhich is a small part of the transverse dimensions thereof to provide aplurality of openings 18 which extend all the way through the board 10.The playing fields 15 and 16 may be made of squares of white and blackplastic respectively, for example, thereby presenting identicalcheckerboard arrays on opposite vertical faces of the playing board 10with an opening at each side of each playing field in each column orfile. The frame 14 and rods 17 may be made of transparent plastic towhich the playing fields 15 and 16 may conveniently be glued to providea playing board 10 of pleasing appearance.

Referring to FIG. 2, a game piece 20 for use with the game board 10according to this embodiment of the game apparatus of this invention isshown in enlarged perspective view. Such game piece 20 comprises twosubstantially rigid generally square planar bodies 22 and 24 havingdimensions somewhat smaller than the dimensions of the playing fields 15and 16 of the board 10 joined to each other along one of their edges bya flexible member 26. Thus, when the game piece 20 is supported by theflexible member 26, the bodies 22 and 24 thereof will lie in generallyparallel spaced planes. Each of the bodies 22 and 24 is transparent andis provided with appropriate indicia 28 on the exterior surface thereoffor use in play using the game apparatus of this invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of thegame board 10 of FIG. 1 is shown together with cross-sectional views oftwo playing pieces 20, one of which is shown already assembled onto theboard 10 and the other of which is shown in the process of beingassembled onto or removed from the board 10. Thus, at the top of FIG. 3,the flexible member 26 of the playing piece 20 is shown flexed to causethe rigid bodies 22 and 24 to extend in planes which are transverse toeach other. One end of one of the bodies 24 is then inserted through oneof the openings 18 between playing fields 15 and 16 in one of thevertical columns of the array thereof. As shown at the bottom of FIG. 3,when the game piece 20 is in its final position as assembled on theboard 10, the flexible member 26 of the game piece 20 will be receivedin an opening 18 with the rigid bodies 22 and 24 of the game piece 20depending therefrom on opposite sides of the playing field 15. In orderto remove the game piece 20 from the board 10, the procedure is reversedby pulling one of the bodies 22 away from the board 10 thus withdrawingthe other body 24 through the opening 18.

As shown and described in detail herein, the game board 10 and gamepieces 20 are adapted for use in playing chess since each playing fieldof the game board 10 will be involved and since any game piece may beassociated with any playing field at some time during play. A game suchas checkers could also be played on the same game board 10 usingappropriate game pieces 20. However, less than all of the playing fieldswould be involved in play. Similarly, other games such as tic-tac-toecould be played on a portion of the game board 10 and it will beunderstood that the game board 10 could be specifically adapted forstill other games.

In playing chess or checkers on the game board 10 when orientedvertically as shown in FIG. 1, the players are on opposite sides of thegame board 10 and thus tend to be visually isolated from each other. Oneof the players plays from the bottom of the game board upwardly and theother of the players plays from the top of the game board downwardly.Each player will see his opponent's moves but will not be distracted byhis opponent's presence. The game board can, of course, be made largerthan usual since the players are in effect positioned at the center ofthe board thus doubling their reach over the surface of the game boardwithout inconvenience. The larger board and its vertical orientationmake it easier for the players to "read" and the lack of distraction dueto the presence of the other player enables each of the players to movefully consider their respective moves.

The game board 10 and the game pieces of the game apparatus according tothe teaching of this invention can be used in a horizontal position asshown in FIG. 4. In the horizontal position, the game pieces 20 mayeither be placed in a tent fashion with the free ends of the two rigidbodies 22 and 24 engaging the openings 18 at opposite ends of aparticular playing field. Alternatively, the game pieces may be foldedflat and placed on the desired playing field as shown at the left inFIG. 4. However, when the game apparatus according to this embodiment ofthe invention is played in a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 4,the game pieces thereof are susceptible to being accidentally moved ormisplaced as in conventional game apparatus, whereas when the gameapparatus according to this embodiment of the invention is played in avertical position, the game pieces cannot be accidentally moved ormisplaced. In fact, it would be possible for blind persons to use thegame apparatus according to this embodiment of the invention by actuallyfeeling the board for the placement and value of the various pieces.Thus, both blind players may simultaneously and continuously feel theboard on their respective sides without interfering with each other oraccidentally displacing the game pieces.

In its simplest form, a game board according to the teaching of thisinvention could be made of a unitary flat sheet having playing fieldspainted or otherwise applied to its opposite surfaces and slots cuttherethrough between adjacent playing fields in order to accommodate thegame pieces as described above. However, it has been found that aparticularly pleasing game board results if the playing fields compriserigid squares suitably mounted with respect to each other within theframe 14. FIGS. 5 through 7 show preferred constructions by which theplaying fields 15 and 16 may be mounted within the frame 14.

Thus, in FIG. 5, a plurality of spacer members 30 are rigidly fixedbetween the corners of the playing fields 15 and 16 with similar spacermembers 31 and 32 being interposed between the frame 14 and the cornersof the playing fields 15 and 16 adjacent thereto. Thus, an opening 18 isprovided along each side of each playing field 15, 16 and the gameapparatus may be used with the game board oriented with any one of itssides uppermost.

In FIG. 6 a construction is shown in which the playing fields 15, 16 arehung within the frame by means of threads or wires 40 extending throughholes provided at the corners of the playing fields 15 and 16.Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7, the playing fields 15 and 16 may beinterconnected with each other and with the frame 14 by means of smallerrigid squares 50 glued or otherwise fastened to bridge between thecorners of the playing fields 15 and 16, as shown. Thus, the requiredopenings 18 are provided along the edges of the playing fields 15 and 16in the constructions of FIGS. 6 and 7 as discussed in connection withFIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 certain details of the game pieces 20according to this embodiment of the apparatus of this invention areshown. Thus, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be understood that therigid bodies 22 and 24 of the game pieces are essentially transparent sothat the color of the playing field on which the game piece is placedmay be seen therethrough even though such bodies have transversedimensions substantially equal to the transverse dimensions of theplaying fields. FIGS. 8 and 9 are front views of two different gamepieces 20' and 20", each having a different color indicia thereon. Thus,in FIG. 8, the body 22' of the game piece 20' is shown as having a blackfigure 28' thereon, whereas in FIG. 9, the body 22" of the game piece20" is shown as having a white figure 28" thereon. In order to enablethe black figure 28' of the game piece 20' to be seen when the gamepiece 20' is placed on a black playing field, the black figure 28' isoutlined in white. Similarly, in order to enable the white figure 28" ofthe game piece 20" to be seen when the game piece 20" is placed on awhite playing field, the white figure 28" is outlined in black.

Referring to FIG. 10, it will be understood that the indicia or figuresused on the game pieces 20 need not have the same colors as the colorsof the playing field. Furthermore, the game pieces 20 may have differentcolored indicia or figures on opposite faces of the bodies 22 and 24thereof and the hinge member 26 may be flexible enough to allow the gamepieces to be turned inside out in order to select the desired color ofindicia or figure. Thus, the game piece 20'" shown in FIG. 10 may havered indicia or figures 28'" on the exterior faces of the bodies 22'" and24'" as shown in FIG. 10. The interior faces of the bodies 22'" and 24'"may be provided with yellow figures or indicia 29, for example, and thehinge member 26' may be sufficiently flexible to allow the interior andexterior surfaces of the bodies 22'" and 24'" to be reversed as desired.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternate preferred embodiment of thegame apparatus of this invention is shown in which the playing fieldsare swingably mounted for engagement by rigid U-shaped game pieces.Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, the game board 110, according to thisembodiment of the invention, may comprise a first parallel array of aplurality of horizontal wires or rods 111 interconnected by a secondparallel array of a plurality of vertical wires or rods 112 to form amesh having large generally square openings. Rigid playing fields orsquares of two different colors 115 and 116 are suspended in suchopenings in a checkerboard array by means of tubular hinge members 113.Thus, each of the playing fields 115 and 116 has a tubular hinge member113 rigidly fixed along one side thereof and the horizontal wires orrods 111 of the mesh are received through such hinge members 113 with aloose fit. The dimensions of the playing fields 115 and 116 are slightlysmaller than the dimensions of the openings defined by the horizontal111 and vertical 112 wires or rods. Thus, when the playing fields 115and 116 are suspended within such openings by the hinge members 113along one side thereof a space or opening 118 is provided between theother three sides of each playing field 115 and 116 and the adjacentparts of the game board structure. As best shown in FIG. 12, this allowsthe playing fields 115 and 116 to swing on the hinge members 113 thereofabout the horizontal wires or rods 111.

As shown in FIG. 12, the game pieces 120 used with the game board 110according to this embodiment of the invention are preferably rigidmembers of U-shape cross-section. Such game pieces 120 may besubstantially identical to the game pieces 20 as shown and described inconnection with the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 1through 10, except that the flexible hinge member 26 is not required.Instead, the necessary flexibility is supplied in the game board 110 bymeans of the tubular hinge members 113 mounting the playing fields 115and 116. Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, the playing fields 115 and 116 willswing about the horizontal wires or rods 111 in order to enable theapplication of the game pieces 120 to the game board 110 and theirremoval therefrom in play. As shown in FIG. 11, tubular rollers 119 maybe mounted about the vertical wires or rods 112 between the horizontalwires or rods 111 in order to facilitate the application and removal ofthe game pieces 120.

In view of the flexibility of the playing fields 115 and 116 provided bythe hinge members 113, it is possible to use three dimensional gamepieces 130 as shown in FIG. 13 with the game board 110 according to thisembodiment of the invention. Thus the three dimensional game piece 130may comprise a conventional chess man, for example, which has been splitvertically into two halves 131 and 132. The two halves 131 and 132 arethen joined at their upper ends in spaced parallel relation by a rigidmember 133 to provide a slotted three dimensional game piece forengagement with the playing fields of the game board 110.

The playing fields 115 and 116 may be mounted on the horizontal wires111 of the playing board 110 according to this embodiment of theinvention in many ways to provide the required flexibility in suchmounting. Thus, as shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of loops 140 offlexible or rigid transparent material may be mounted on the horizontalwires 111. Such loops may provide double walls having transversedimensions slightly smaller than the openings formed between thehorizontal wires 111 by the vertical wires 112 and rigid squares orplaying fields 145 of the desired colors may be inserted in the loops140 between the double walls thereof. Thus, the required flexibility isprovided in the game board 110 by the swinging movement of the playingfields 145 about the horizontal wires 111 and any pattern of colors ofplaying fields may be formed and easily changed. In fact, as indicatedby the dotted figure 146, the major surfaces of the squares 145 couldbear indicia, thus providing game pieces. In this case the loops 140could be made of translucent material of selected colors to preserve thecheckerboard feature of the array and still enable the indicia 146 onthe squares 145 to be seen in play.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a further game board structure accordingto this embodiment of the invention is shown which is particularlysuited for use with three dimensional game pieces of the type shown inFIG. 13. According to this structure loops 150 of rigid material and thedesired opaque color are mounted on the horizontal wires 111. Again, theloops 150 have transverse dimensions slightly smaller than the openingsformed between the horizontal wires 111 by the vertical wires 112. Theloops 150 can, of course, swing about the horizontal wires 111 asdescribed hereinabove in connection with FIGS. 11, 12 and 14. However,as shown in FIG. 16, the rigid loops provide an additional element offlexibility which is useful in the application and removal of threedimensional game pieces.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, the loop 150 providing the playing field towhich a three dimensional game piece 130 is to be applied will swingabout the horizontal wire 111 upon which it is mounted. In addition, theloop 150 providing the playing field immediately thereabove and in thesame column can move upwardly from its support by the horizontal wire111 on which it is mounted to accommodate the game piece 130'. Thisadditional flexibility is particularly useful in removing threedimensional game pieces from the game board, it being understood thatthe loops 150 will always return to their normal position as supportedon the horizontal wires 111 when the insertion or removal of a gamepiece has been completed.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, yet another embodiment of the gameapparatus according to this invention is shown in which still anotherstructure is used to provide the required flexibility for theapplication to and removal from the game board 170 of the game pieces.The structure of the game board 170 of FIGS. 17 and 18 is similar tothat shown in FIG. 7 and described hereinabove except that the playingfields of the desired colors 175 and 176 are made of flexible material.In addition, the mounting squares 177 interconnecting the corners of theplaying fields 175 and 176 may be made of a flexible material. Thus,game pieces 120 of U-shape cross-section similar to those shown in FIG.12 and described hereinabove may be readily applied to and removed fromthe game board 170 due to the flexibility of the playing fields 175 and176 and the mounting squares 177. The game pieces 120 for use with thegame board 170 should be thin and light in weight and the game board 170may be removably mounted within a frame or otherwise supported for usein play. Thus, the game board 170 has the advantage that it can befolded for storage with the game pieces 120 in place.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, another foldable embodiment of the gameapparatus according to the teaching of this invention is shown. Theembodiment of FIGS. 19 and 20 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1through 10 in that game pieces identical to game pieces 20 are utilizedin play and in that rigid playing fields 15 and 16 are used to form gameboard 190 according to this embodiment of the invention. However, theinterconnections between the playing fields 15 and 16 are flexible andinstead of being mounted within frame, the playing fields 15 and 16 aresuspended in spaced relation to each other between upper and lowersupport bars 191 and 192. For example, as best shown in FIG. 20, theplaying fields 15 and 16 of the playing board 190 according to thisembodiment of the invention, may be attached to each other in spacedrelation by means of elongated vertical 193 and horizontal 194 flexiblestrands or strings extending along and affixed to the edges of theplaying fields as by gluing, for example. The strands or strings 193 and194 extend from top to bottom and for the full width respectively of thegame board 190. The upper and lower ends of the strands 193 are fastenedto the upper 191 and lower 192 support bars, respectively.

Thus, it will be seen that the game board 190 may be suspended in avertical position for play by appropriate hook and eye means 195 affixedto the upper support bar 191, for example. However, the game board 190may be folded as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 with or without the gamepieces 20 in place thereon for transportation and storage.

As shown in FIG. 19, the game board 190 includes a further feature whichis applicable to all embodiments of this invention. Such featurecomprises the play notice board 196 mounted on the upper support bar forselective movement from a first position on one side of the uppersupport bar 191 to a second position on the opposite side of the uppersupport bar 191. The play notice board 196 may have the word "Play", forexample, or any other appropriate indicia on its opposite surfaces.Since the players are on opposite sides of the game board 190 and sincethe game board 190 effectively prevents the players from seeing eachother, the play notice board 196 is useful in notifying or reminding theappropriate player that it is his turn to play. Thus, upon completing aplay, each player will move the play notice board 196 from its positionon his side of the playing board 190 to its position on the oppositeside of the playing board 190 to signify that he has completed his playand it is now the other player's turn.

Referring to FIG. 21, a means providing both for the support of aplaying board according to the embodiment of this invention shown inFIGS. 1 through 10 and for its storage is shown. Such means comprises ahollow box 200 open along one of its edges 201 and dimensioned toreceive the game board 10 therewithin. A pair of straps or cords 202 and203 are provided which have a length sufficient to extend about the box200 and over the upper edge of the game board 10 when the box 200 ispositioned horizontally and the game board 10 is positioned verticallyon the upper surface of the box 200 as shown in FIG. 21. The straps orcords 202 and 203 may be made adjustable in length but need not beresilient. The proper tensioning of straps or cords 202, 203 ofapproximately the correct length may be obtained by adjusting theangular orientation of the plane in which such straps or cords 202, 203extend with respect to the horizontal. It has been found that thearrangement shown in FIG. 21 provides stable support for the game board10 in use with minimum requirement for storage space. It will be notedthat the game board 10 in FIG. 21 has been provided with a play noticeboard 196 as described in connection with FIG. 19. It will also be notedthat game pieces 20, for example, may be left in playing position onboard 10 for storage in the box 200 with the board 10.

Referring to FIG. 22, a modification of the embodiment of this inventionshown in FIGS. 11 through 16 is shown which may be played in ahorizontal position if desired. Thus, a game board 210 similar to thegame board 110 of FIG. 11 is provided with extensions or legs 211 and212 along opposite sides thereof. Such extensions or legs 211 and 212may have the same structure as the game board 110 in that they consistof wires or rods extending perpendicularly to each other. The legs 211and 212 are hinged to the game board 210 and should include at least twocolumns of openings. Thus the game board 210 may be supported in ahorizontal position above a horizontal surface in which position theplaying fields thereof will swing to a vertical position as shown. Gamepieces 120 or 130 may be used with game board 210 in its horizontalposition. However, it would also be possible to use game pieces such asgame piece 20 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 10. The legs 211 and212 will provide a convenient support for playing pieces which have been"taken" or are otherwise not in use on the game board 210.

According to another feature of the game board 210 an extra row ofopenings is provided in the playing surface. Thus it will be seen thatthe playing board 210 may be positioned vertically along either of itsends for vertical play with the legs 211 and 212 pivoted to extend onopposite sides thereof for support of the game board 210 in its verticalposition. Again, the legs 211 and 212 will provide for the convenientstorage of game pieces which are not in use on the game board forwhatever reason.

The game apparatus according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11-16 mayalso be played in a conventional manner similar to FIG. 4. Thus, thegame boards of FIGS. 11-16 and 22 may be placed on a flat surface withplaying fields supported thereby in a common horizontal plane and theplaying pieces placed thereon.

From the above detailed description of the drawings it will be seen thatthe teaching of this invention may be embodied in a number of novelembodiments all of which are preferably utilized with the game board ina vertical position to provide a complete visual shield between theplayers. When played in a vertical position, the checkerboard feature ofthe playing board is fully preserved and the possibility of accidentaldisplacement of the game pieces is avoided. It is believed that thoseskilled in the art will design other embodiments of the game apparatusaccording to the teaching of this invention differing from thosespecifically described hereinabove without departing from the scope ofthis invention.

For example, the game apparatus of this invention may be adapted forgames such as backgammon, parchesi, Go or puzzles for example, where thegame pieces are of uniform size but the playing fields vary inconfiguration so long as the required locations of the game pieces arein row and column array. It will be understood that such rows andcolumns of the array need not include equal numbers of locations for thegame pieces in all embodiments of this invention.

Rigid embodiments of the game board of the game apparatus of thisinvention may be mounted vertically by hinging or otherwise connectingone of its sides to a vertical support such as a wall, in addition tosupporting it from the bottom or hanging it from overhead. Thus, thegame apparatus may be mounted as a decorator item in a home for spaceconservation and instant availability for use. It may be made largeenough to serve as a partition or small enough to serve as a wallhanging with or without the game pieces mounted thereon. Otherembodiments and advantages of the game apparatus of this invention willbe obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. Game apparatus comprising in combination a gameboard of given area and thickness and having opposed substantiallyparallel major surfaces, a plurality of individual slots through saidgame board defining a given number of playing fields arranged withrespect to each other in a planar array of rows and columns of givenareas of the opposed major surfaces of said game board, said majorsurfaces of said playing fields each having an area less than said givenarea of said array divided by said given number of said playing fields,material disposed between and interconnecting all adjacent corners ofsaid playing fields in said array; and a plurality of game pieces eachcomprising a pair of indicia bearing bodies, the indicia on a respectiveone of said pair of indicia bearing bodies of each game piece being thesame as the indicia on the respective other one of said pair of indiciabearing bodies of said game piece, and means joining said bodies to eachother at one of their ends, said means joining said bodies of each ofsaid game pieces allowing said bodies to extend in mutually parallelplanes spaced from each other by a distance at least equal to and notmuch greater than said given thickness of said game board, at least oneof the material forming said interconnected adjacent corners of saidplaying fields in said array, said means joining said pair of indiciabearing bodies of each of said plurality of game pieces and saidplurality of playing fields being flexible.
 2. Game apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein said game board comprises a rigid hollow generallysquare frame enclosing a given area and said given number of playingfields are squares made of rigid material and means mounting said givennumber of playing fields including means interconnecting adjacentcorners of said rigid squares with said squares being spaced from eachother.
 3. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said meansinterconnecting adjacent corners of said rigid squares comprises aplurality of rigid rods each extending between a pair of adjacentcolumns of said array with the sides of the rigid squares of saidcolumns fixed thereto, each of said rigid rods being fixed to said frameat its opposite ends and said means joining said bodies of each of saidgame pieces is flexible.
 4. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid means interconnecting adjacent corners of said rigid squarescomprises flexible means extending only between adjacent corners ofadjacent rigid squares of said planar array.
 5. Game apparatus asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said means interconnecting adjacent cornersof said rigid squares comprises rigid spacer members extending betweenadjacent corners only of adjacent rigid squares, rigid spacer membersextending between said frame and adjacent corners only of said rigidsquares and said means joining said bodies of each of said game piecesis flexible.
 6. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further including ahollow box dimensioned to contain said rigid frame therewithin, said boxbeing open along one edge thereof to receive said frame, and a pair ofelongated inextensible members each having a length substantially equalto the total length of the sides and base of an isosceles trianglehaving a base equal to a transverse dimension of said frame and analtitude equal to the total of a transverse dimension of said frame plusthe thickness of said frame; the ends of each of said pair of elongatedinextensible members being joined to form a continuous loop about saidframe and said box with said frame extending in a plane perpendicular tothe plane in which said box extends, said continuous loops being spacedfrom each other whereby said frame and said box are fixed with respectto each other and said box may be supported on a horizontal surface withsaid frame extending vertically thereabove.
 7. Game apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein said given number of playing fields are individualsquares made of rigid material and said game board includes meansmounting said rigid squares in said planar array comprising flexiblemeans interconnecting adjacent corners of said rigid squares with saidrigid squares being equally spaced from each other in said array and arigid bar with flexible means interconnecting said bar with corners ofsaid rigid squares in an outside row of said array whereby said arraymay be hung from said bar.
 8. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein said planar array extends vertically and the upper end thereofis provided with indicia means movable through an arc extending abovesaid array from a first position on one side of said array to a secondposition on the opposite side of said array.
 9. Game apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of indicia bearing bodiesof each of said game pieces comprises a rigid planar body having opposedgenerally parallel major surfaces bearing said indicia and said meansjoining said pair of indicia bearing bodies of each of said game piecesis flexible.
 10. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein each ofsaid pair of indicia bearing bodies of each of said game pieces issubstantially transparent and said indicia thereon is substantiallyopaque.
 11. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of saidmajor surfaces of each of said pair of indicia bearing bodies of each ofsaid game pieces bears indicia which is different from that borne by theother major surface thereof but the same as that borne by thecorresponding major surface of the other body of such pair; and saidmeans joining said pair of indicia bearing bodies of each of said gamepieces is sufficiently flexible to allow said major surfaces of saidbodies to be exposed to view in alternate pairs of corresponding majorsurfaces.
 12. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said givennumber of playing fields are each made of a thin flexible material. 13.Game apparatus comprising a planar game board of given length, width andthickness, a planar support pedestal of given length, width andthickness and an elongated inextensible member having a lengthsubstantially equal to the total length of the sides and base of anisosceles triangle having a base equal to said given width of saidsupport pedestal and an altitude equal to the total of said given widthof said game board and said given thickness of said support pedestal;the ends of said elongated inextensible member being joined to form acontinuous loop about said game board and said support pedestal with theplane of said game board extending perpendicular to the plane of saidpedestal whereby said game board and said support pedestal may be fixedto each other by adjusting the plane of said continuous loop formed bysaid elongated inextensible member with respect to the planes of saidgame board and said support pedestal to enable said game board to besupported vertically above a horizontal surface upon said supportpedestal.